Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures - Student Choice Projects - MS

Bring chemistry to life with these student-led choice projects that help middle school learners explore elements, compounds, and mixtures in a creative and engaging way.
Aligned with middle school physical science standards, this resource allows students to choose a project format that fits their learning and output style, promoting independence, critical thinking, and ownership of learning.

The project choice board includes six student-led options plus a “design your own” project for students who want to take their creativity further.
An editable grading rubric provides flexibility and consistency for teachers, peers, or student self-assessment, evaluating vocabulary, concepts, presentation, clarity, and accuracy.

Flexible, Creative, and Student-Centered

These Student Choice Projects are designed for flexibility, differentiation, and engagement.
Teachers can easily customize the rubric to fit their grading preferences, while students select from multimodal project options—written, artistic, hands-on, or digital—to demonstrate their understanding of elements, compounds, and mixtures.

This approach encourages collaboration, creativity, and deeper comprehension while giving every learner a meaningful way to show what they know.

What’s Included

• Nine project choice board options plus a “design your own” project

• Teacher Directions page with guidance, tips, and differentiation suggestions

• Editable rubric pages assessing vocabulary, concepts, presentation, clarity, and accuracy

Differentiated for All Learners

To meet diverse student needs, this resource includes two versions of the project page:

• A modified version with three scaffolded options designed for students who need additional support or remediation.

• A standard version for grade-level or advanced learners. Teachers can also assign multiple projects for enrichment while using the same rubric for consistent grading.

Differentiation is built in—no extra prep required!

Simple Supplies, Maximum Creativity

No special materials required!
The Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures Student Choice Projects are designed to use common classroom supplies such as paper, markers, and scissors.
Many projects can also be completed digitally, making them perfect for in-person, hybrid, or virtual classrooms.

For hands-on learners, optional craft supplies can be added for model building or creative visual displays that bring chemistry concepts to life.